The Department of Education has received a record increase of $6.7 billion in discretionary spending for fiscal 2002, which began Oct. 1, for a total of $48.9 billion. That represents a 15.9 percent increase from fiscal 2001. Here are some highlights from the new budget and comparisons with last year’s levels.
- Title I grants to districts: $10.35 billion, or up $1.6 billion, an 18.1 percent increase.
- Reading: $975 million, up $689 million, a 240.9 percent increase.
- Special education state grants: $7.53 billion, up $ 1.19 billion, an 18.8 percent increase.
- School Repair: no funding, after 1.2 billion last year.
- Teacher quality: $2.85 billion, up $625 million, a 28.1 percent increase.
- Bilingual education: $665 million, up $205 million, a 44.6 percent increase.
- Impact aid: $1.14 billion, up $150 million, a 15.1 percent increase.
- Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities program: $644 million, same as last year.
- 21st Century Community Learning Centers: $1 billion, up $154 million, an 18.3 percent increase.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education